PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2063

PRINTER'S NO. 2204

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No.

1819

Session of

2021

INTRODUCED BY LABS, R. BROWN, GROVE, HAMM, MENTZER, MILLARD,

MOUL, POLINCHOCK, ROAE, RYAN, SCHROEDER, STAATS, STAMBAUGH,

THOMAS, TOMLINSON, TOPPER, ZIMMERMAN, MERCURI, JONES, FARRY

unemployment compensation to be administered by the

Department of Labor and Industry and its existing and newly

created agencies with personnel (with certain exceptions)

selected on a civil service basis; requiring employers to

keep records and make reports, and certain employers to pay

contributions based on payrolls to provide moneys for the

payment of compensation to certain unemployed persons;

providing procedure and administrative details for the

determination, payment and collection of such contributions

and the payment of such compensation; providing for

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Sections 401(b)(1)(iii) and 402(a) of the act of

December 5, 1936 (2nd Sp.Sess., 1937 P.L.2897, No.1), known as

the Unemployment Compensation Law, are amended to read:

SECTION 1. SECTION 401(B)(1)(III) OF THE ACT OF DECEMBER 5,

1936 (2ND SP.SESS., 1937 P.L.2897, NO.1), KNOWN AS THE

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION LAW, IS AMENDED TO READ:

department and shall include, at a minimum, all of the

following:

* * *

(iii) Applying for positions that offer employment and wages

similar to those the claimant had prior to his unemployment and

which are within a forty-five (45) minute commuting distance.

The following apply:

(A) A CLAIMANT SHALL MAKE A GOOD-FAITH EFFORT TO OBTAIN

EMPLOYMENT IN SUITABLE WORK. A claimant who has applied for a

position may not take any action to UNREASONABLY discourage the

suitable work , without good cause, prior to an interview or a

discussion of the details of a job with the employer.

(III) Failing to make a good-faith effort to obtain

employment, as evidenced by statements or other actions of the

claimant, that are intended to discourage the claimant's hire.

(B) If a claimant refuses or fails to participate in a job

interview or applicant selection activity for good cause, the

claimant shall notify the employer of the reasons and make a

FORMS SHALL INCLUDE NOTICE OF THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 802.

(C) A CLAIMANT WHO UNREASONABLY DISCOURAGES THE CLAIMANT'S

OWN HIRE IN SUITABLE WORK SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE REFUSED AN

OFFER OF WORK FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 402(A).

* * *

good cause, either to apply for suitable work at such time and

in such manner as the department may prescribe, or to accept

suitable work when offered to him by the employment office or by

any employer, irrespective of whether or not such work is in

"employment" as defined in this act: Provided, That such

employer notifies the employment office of such offer within

seven (7) days after the making thereof; however this subsection

shall not cause a disqualification of a waiting week or benefits

under the following circumstances: when work is offered by his

employer and he is not required to accept the offer pursuant to

That a claimant who discourages the claimant's own hire, without